H1N1 vaccines available to the public

LEWISTOWN - Lewistown Home Health & Hospice: The Bridge will provide H1N1 vaccines from 4 to 7 p.m., or until the supply is depleted, Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Juniata Valley Area Chamber of Commerces office in the historic courthouse in downtown Lewistown.

Becky Connolly, hospice community liaison, said this is Lewistown Home Health & Hospices first shipment of H1N1 vaccines.

The H1N1 vaccine will be offered to those who fall under the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions priority groups, with some alterations.

This includes pregnant women; those aged 5 to 24; healthcare providers and emergency medical service personnel; parents and caregivers of children under 6 months of age; and those under 65 years of age with certain underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease, Connolly said.

Lewistown Home Health & Hospice has 200 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, which were ordered through VNA Health System, under which the hospice is run. The vaccines arrived on Oct. 15, Connolly said.

Connolly said VNA Health System ordered more than 5,000 doses for the area.

The vaccine is free. However, there is an administration fee of $15 for those ages 10 and up receiving the vaccine, Connolly said.

For those ages 5 to 9 receiving the vaccine, there is a cost of $10 a dose, Connolly said, because for that age group, two doses of the vaccine are necessary.

The vaccine will be administered through intramuscular injections, Connolly said.

Connolly said once the vaccine becomes more available, more clinics will be open to the public.

Certainly we have recognized in this area the need for these things to happen, she said.

Rosemary Coyne, director at Lewistown Home Health & Hospice, said making the first doses of the H1N1 vaccine available to the public has been a quick process.

Its our very first shipment and were making it available to the community right away, she said.

A total of six trained nurses will be administering the vaccines, Connolly said.

The folks that we have are so willing to step up, she said.

The seasonal flu vaccine will not be offered at this particular clinic.

For more information on CDCs priority groups, visit www.cdc.gov.